Brake



Mwah l p 3927.

V. UNK

BRAKE Filed July 2. 1926 mvENToR V//vcfm .il/VK.

Patented er. l, 1.927..

VINCENT LINK, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER CORPORA- TION,` OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BRAKE.

Application filed July 2', 1926. Serial No. 120,126.

This invention relates to brake mechanisms for motor vehicles, and'particularly to means for anchoring the free ends of the brake-operating shafts at the chassis frame, the principal object being to provide a construction that is simple, ethcient and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a simple means for anchoring the free end of a brakeactuating shaft to the chassis frame, in suoli a manner as to permit operation of the same regardless of the position of the chassis frame relative to lthe vehicle axle.

Another object is to provide means for flexibly anchoring the free end of a brakeactuating shaft to the chassis frame.

A further objectis to provide means for pivotally supporting the free end of a brakeactuating shaft in a spring-pressed socket attached tothe end of a flat spring member, which is anchored to the vehicle frame side member.

These being among the objects of the present invention. the same consists of cert-ain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing and then claimed, having the above and other ob jects in view.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a suitable embodiment of fthe present invention Figure 1 is a pantial/ section taken vertically through the left/fijont wheel of a motor vehicle chassis anrj'lthrou'gh the adjacentframe side member 'tl ereof; clearly showing the construction of he inner end of the brake-operating shaft.

Figure 2 is a side view taken on the line 2)-2 of Figure 1 looking toward the vehicle frame, showing the anchoring socket and flat spring member secured to the chassis frame side member.

Figure 3 is a partial section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 3, showingl the anchor.- ing socket and its connection to the frame side member.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. the embodiment of the present invention is shown in connection with the front wheel brake mech`- anism of a motor vehicle` to which it is particularly adapted. Shown in Figure 1 is a front axle 10 of the tubular type having an end member 11 which terminates in an upwardly extending shaft '12 upon which the steering knuckle 13 is pivotally supported.

The knuckle 13 is provided with the conventional wheel spindle 14 upon which the wheel hub 15 is supported and is free to rotate. The-hub 15 is provided with a flange portion 1G against which the wheel spokes 17 abut and which are secured thereto by bolts 18 an 'l nuts 19, which also serve to' supporty and secure the brake drum 2O to the hub 15 in concentric relation therewith'. The knuckle 13 is formed with flanges 21 to which the brake drum dust cover 22 is se cured in concentric relation with the drum 20. which cover closes the open end thereof. Within the brake drum 2O and pivotally supported on adjacent pins 23 secured to the dust cover 22 are two brake shoes 24, the outer surfaces of which normally lie just out of contact in relationship'with the inner surface of the. drum 20, and whose free ends'arevdrawn against the expanding cam 25 by a spring (not shown) extending there-- between. The cam 25 is formed on the end of va short shaft which projects through the dust cover 22 and is rotatably supported in the bracket 26, which also projects through the dust cover 22 and is secured thereto by screws or bolts which pass through the. ianges 27 thereof.

In constructions of this type, wherein vthe brake-operating shaftv is supported at one end on the frame of the vehicle and the other end is on. oron a part supported by, the end of the axle, thedistance between the point of supporton the frame and on the axle varies with the movement of the axle relativev to theA frame, due to both horizontal and vertical movement of the springs which support the frame on the axle. The present invention deals with -mcans for compensating for the action.'

As has been described, the bracket Q6 is secured to the dust cover which supports it and which is relativeljY stationary in respect to the axlel 10. b v the screws or bolts which pass through the dust cover QQ and into the flanges 27. As has also been described, the bracket Q6 rotatably supports a short shaft having fue. cam 25 formed on" an end thereof. The end of the shaft opposite the cam 2.) is formed to provide two arms 2S Vio which make up one yoke of a universal joint comprising cross pins 29 and 30, a block 31 and a yoke 32 formed on tir'.` outer end of the' operating shaft The operating shaft 33 extends inwardly toward, and terminates short of, the vehicle side frame member 34, and terminates in a ball-shaped end 35. This end 35 is received in a socket secured to the free end of a flat spring 36 positioned between two spring members 37 of less length, all three of which are held in spaced relation to the frame side member 34 by a spacing block 38 and are secured to the frame member 34 by bolts 39 and nuts 49 somewhat rearwardly of the ball and socket connection.

The free end of the spring 36 is provided with an opening 40 to receive the ball-.end 35 of the operating shaft 33. Positioned on one side of the spring 36 over the opening 40 isa housing 41 containing a cup 42 having a spherically shaped seat, which is forced againstthe ball end 35 by a compressed coil spring 43 positioned between it and the bottom of the housing 41. ,On the other side of the dat spring 36 is a ball retainer member 44, which bears against the ortion of the ball 35 lying on that side of t e opening 40,

andis provided with a central opening 45 to allow the operating shaft 33 to extend therethrough. Y

Bolts 46 extend A,through the housing 4l, the spring member 36, and retainer 45, and nuts 47 threaded on, the bolts 46 firml secure the same together and cause the coilY spring 43 to remain in compression, thereby holding the ball'end 35 snugly between the cup 42 and retainer member 44. A rock lever 48 is secured to the shaft 33 and is adapted to cause movement thereof when rotated about its axis, thereby acting to cause rotation of the cam 25 and spreading of the 'brake shoes 24 into contact with the drum 20 to e'ect a braking action on the wheel.

,The action of the construction just de scribed is apparent, and as the vehicle is passing over rough roads and the like, the frame, due to the springing action, is continuallyjouncing up and down relative to the axle, and naturally the distance' between ,the universal joint connection at the outer end of the'op'erating shaft and the point of support at the free endchanges correspond ingly. 'lo compensate for the movement of theframe relative to the axle the ball end of the shaft pivots universally in its socket and the flat spring member 36 flexes inwardly or outwardly, according to the motion of the frame.

It is also apparent that the brakes may be easily applied, regardless of t-he position of the frame relative to the axle because of the pivotal action ofthe shaft end when the sinne is rocked by the lever. As shown in the several figures of the drawing, the flat spring 36 is in compression when the lever is pulled backwardly, or rather' clockwise, to ap ly the brakes and it is to be understood tiiat the point of attachment to the frame may be placed forwardly of the operating shaft to putA the spring member 'n tension instead of compres-sion as illustra'l, or mayv be placed above or below the sha l't. g

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention desdribed without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, tlie scope olf which comnn-nsurzue with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor vehicle, braking means for a wheel thereof, a brake-operai'ing;I shaft ex-y tending 'inwardly from said braking mcair"` and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft comprising a spring.)l secured at one end to the `frame of said vehicle and at S5 the other end tothe inner end of said shaft 2. In a motor vehicle, braking means for a wheel thereof, *a bi'ake-oiieratinf shaft ex? tending inwardly\ from said means and terinitiating adjacent a frame member of said 9U vehicle, alxl means for supl'iorting the inner end of said shaft comprisi'g a sl'nin-g se# cured to both said frame and to said shaft.

3. In a motor vehicle, braking n'ieans for a wheel thereof, a. brake-operating shaft extending inwardly therefrom and terminating adjacenteJ frame member, and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft, said means comprisingva spring secured at one end to said frame member' and provided with means for pivotnlly supporting the inner end of said shaft at its other end.

4.` Insa'motor vehicle, braking means for a Wheel-thereof.l a brakebperating shaft extendingY inwardly therefrom and terminatf ing in a ball end, and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft from the frame of saidlvehicle comprising a leaf springl rigidlyseeured to said frame at one end and provided with 'a socket for receiving said ball end of said shaft at its other end.

5. In a motor vehicle, braking means for a wheel thereof, a brake-operating shaft extending inwardly therefi-'om and terminating short of the frame of said vehicle. and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft to allow axial movement therepf relallt) ltive to said frame, said means comprising a fpring plate for s'tifeningl the first-mentloned plate adjacent its point of attachment to said frame.

7. In .a motor vehicle, braking means ,for a wheel thereof, a brake-operating shaft ex-l tending inwardly therefrom and terminating in a ball end, and means for supporting. said` ball end, said mean's comprising a spring plate secured at one end to the frame of said vehicle, and provided with resilient spring means at the othergend thereof for pivotally socketing said ball.

8. In a motor vehicle, braking means for a wheel thereof, a brake-operating shaft universally connected t0 said braking means and extending inwardly therefrom and terminating in .a ball 'end,and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft from the frame of said Vehicle to allow axial movement thereof, said means comprising an elongated spring plate secured tosaid frame at one end and provided withanopening at the opposite free end, said ball end being centrally positioned in said opening with respect tov said spring, and sockets secured to 25 vehicle, a brake-operating shaft extending $0 inwardly from said means and terminating in a ball vshort of the frame of said vehicle, and means for supporting the inner end of said shaft to allow axial movement thereof comprising a cantilever spring secured at 35 one end to said frame and provided with an opening at its opposite end for receiving said ball, an apertured plate provided with a spherical seat encircling said shaft and secured to 5said spring over one side of said opening, na cup member secured to said spring and closing the other side of said opening, anda spring-pressed button within said cupfor resiliently holding said ball againstfsaidpspherical seat. I

Signedfby me at Detroit, Michigan, U.- S. A., this 29th day of June, 1926.

v VINCENT LINK. 

